[WKRG] It’s no surprise to many on the Gulf Coast that sharks live in our waters, but two separate shark attacks on the same day just miles apart raised concerns about the rising population of sharks.Escambia County Sheriff’s Office seeks help in identifying burglary suspect
According to Dr. Sean Powers, the director of the University of South Alabama’s Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, unlike the rise in shark and beachgoer populations, “the incidents of shark attacks hasn’t increased that much.”
SHARK NUMBERS ALONG THE GULF COAST
Dr. Powers said that this time of year — from April to June — the Gulf Coast sees the highest number of sharks in the waters.
“The ones that don’t like warm water are still here, and the ones that are residents are happy and they’re not looking for colder water,” Dr. Powers explained.
Much of what drove the shark population, according to Dr. Powers, is the conservation efforts. He explained the conservation efforts have focused on preventing fishermen from targeting sharks.